Free Key Lime Blues by Mike Jastrzebski Page A

years they lived with us, Gail and I were as close as sisters.”
    “Did you keep in touch when she went away to school?”
    Tanya shook her head. “No. We had a falling out after she and Shelly left and we didn’t talk much to each other afterward. I heard about what happened at Michigan State by word of mouth. Key West is still a small town and the gossip spread fast. I’ll admit I was a little surprised when I learned she was dancing.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “She hated the fact that her mother was a stripper. She once told me she’d rather be dead than take her clothes off in front of a bunch of drunks.”
    “You guys seem buddy-buddy now,” I said. “She didn’t think twice about calling you at three in the morning when she needed a place to spend the night.”
    The coffee pot made its final gurgles and Tanya rinsed her cup under the faucet, picked up the pot, and carried them to the table. She poured us both a fresh cup and settled back into her chair.
    “Gail started coming into the bar about a month or so ago. She hooked up with Billy, and while he was playing we got reacquainted. I think she was lonely, and we go back a long way. What difference does it make?”
    “I don’t know if it makes a difference. But I’d like you to help me understand her.”
    “And why’s that Wes? You figure if you understand her you can find her? Then what? You get your money back. You get the diamonds and your ass isn’t hanging out there waiting to have someone chew on it. What about Gail? If she doesn’t get killed does she continue stripping? Do you even care?”
    I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose with my thumb. This woman sitting across the table intrigued me. One minute we seemed to be in sync, the next we were at each other’s throats. She appeared to be smart and caring, but also a little bit naive.
    “I’m not going to lie to you, Tanya. I want my money back. And I don’t want to take a bullet because Gail did something stupid. If I can find her and get the diamonds into Frankie’s hands, we should be able to put this whole thing to rest. I’m pretty sure he wants those diamonds more than he wants her dead.”
    “You don’t think she’s going to turn over the diamonds, do you?”
    I stared across the table and let her think about things for a moment before asking, “Am I wrong?”
    She shook her head. “Gail believes she’s smarter than you, or Frank Szymanski, or these other guys you’ve been telling me about. I told you, she’s always liked the idea of easy money. I’m sure it’s why she started dancing.”
    “So will you help me find her?”
    Tanya picked up her cup and blew on the coffee again. Not because it was hot, I suspected, but because it bought her a few seconds to think. Finally, she let out a sigh. “I’ll help if you promise to do everything you can to keep her alive.”
    “I planned on that all along,” I said. “Even without your help.”
    She smiled for the first time. “For some reason, I believe you. So now what?”
    I reached out and touched her hand and was glad when she didn’t pull it away. I let my hand linger for a heartbeat, and then stood. “I guess I’d better go talk to Elvis.”
    Tanya began to chew on her lip. I knew something was on her mind, so I waited for her to find the right words. When she looked up, she focused her eyes on mine. “Would you stop back here after you talk to him? I mean if Gail decides she made a mistake, this is where she’ll look for you.”
    “I’ll tell you what,” I said. “If it’s not too late after I talk to Elvis, I’ll stop back here. Otherwise, I’ll catch you at the bar and fill you in on what’s happening. I promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure this turns out all right for her—if she’ll let me.”

Chapter 9

    My phone rang while I was standing on the porch. The day had started off on a sour note, and I groaned when I looked at the number. It was my mother, and I didn’t think